182 NATURAL HISTORY [Fishes. 



The whole body is covered with strong crusts, prettily radi- 

 ated from a centre ; the number of these, from the pectoral 

 fin to the tail fin, sixty-five. 



The back of a large specimen was brown spotted, the belly 

 whitish ; that of a smaller, light brown, the belly white. 



Species 3. The. Little Pipe-Fish. 



Acui Aristotelis congener pisciculus, pueris Cornubiensibus Sea Adder ; acus 

 lumbriciformis, aut serpentinus, WiL Icth. 160. Raii Syn. rise. Syngna- 

 thus ophidion, Lin. Sys. 417. Brit. lool. \0,tab. 6, fig. 3. 



THIS is the smallest of the genus, and found very frequent- 

 ly under stones in the space between high and low water- 

 mark ; liker the first than the second species, only the nose is 

 shorter, and turns more up ; the fins are the same number in 

 both, but the body of this is not covered with crusts, as in the 

 former, but with a skin ; the colour of those I have seen was 

 a deep olive green. 



These needle fishes are of no use here ; they are never eaten, 

 and the coat of mail wherewith they are covered hinders them 

 from being made bait, for no fish will be ready to snap at a 

 creature so well defended. 



